2005
A Taste of Summer Festival - June 25, 2005
What an incredible night! Roger rocked the festival!
I left work around 4:15pm, and headed out for Waukesha around 4:45. My trip started out alright, until I hit 5 o'clock rush hour in St Louis. It took me well over an hour and a half just to get out of the city! This unfortunately set my itinerary back by a couple of hours, and I didn't reach Rockford IL until 11:30 Friday night. I was exhausted, but I couldn't sleep. I was going to see Roger on Saturday, and I was very excited and nervous all at the same time. It had been over 7 years since that night in Minneapolis, and I was bound and determined that I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice (for more information, please see Beginnings: 1984-1998).
As usual, on the day of any concert I'm really looking forward to, I woke up around 5am, and couldn't get back to sleep. In fact, I think I just catnapped the entire night. Waukesha was 1 1/2 hours away, so I started getting ready. I left the hotel around 9am, because the directions to the Waukesha Expo Center were a bit confusing. I am happy to report that I didn't get lost, and I reached the Expo Center around 10:45am. I hung out in my car for about a half hour, and then made my way into the fairgrounds.
There were 2 stages for bands to perform on, and they were both wide open for people to see. I had looked over to the main stage, and thought I had seen Roger. He was doing a sound check around noon, and I couldn't help but go over and watch. I kept my distance, because there were a lot of autograph hounds, and I didn't want to get caught up in that. I had thought about going in and sitting down to watch, but it felt like imposing, so I stayed outside the fenced area and took a couple of photographs. It was great hearing him sing - I was standing there in total awe. He played a little of several songs: "Every Trick in the Book," "Lovers in the Wind," "If Everyone was Listening," "Breakfast in America." It was a real treat for me to witness that, because I had never seen a sound check before, and this was Roger which made it all the more special. I think he was there for well over an hour, and afterwards he signed autographs and took pictures, but I stayed back out of respect.
Time seemed to drag on from that point until around 6:30pm, when I took my front row seat to watch Ambrosia, who played at 7pm, and I was really impressed by them. Once their show was over, I sat there and waited as patiently as I could. It was at that time that I met Jan from LA and we chatted for a little while, sharing Roger stories. Then Linda Tyler appeared on stage, and Jan told her who I was, and then I was presented with a backstage pass, which totally floored me. I was speechless: I was going to meet Roger! I sat and thought about what I was going to say... maybe I'll say more than 10 words this time! No matter what, I was going to talk to him!
The show started around 9:15pm, and Roger entered from stage left. Before we saw him, you could hear him checking to see if his guitar was in tune, and then we heard the opening chords to "Give a Little Bit." The folks who were running the spotlights had a hard time finding him, but when they did, everone jumped to their feet to welcome him. He looked great, he sounded great. He played the fan favorites: "Take the Long Way Home," "Sister Moonshine," "The Logical Song," and he also played a few that were unexpected: "Lovers in the Wind," "Open the Door," "Keep the Pigeons Warm." I tell you, when I heard "Lovers in the Wind" on the baby grand piano, I nearly cried because that is one of my all-time favorites. And the crowd was great: after every song, they gave him a standing ovation! Now what would've made my night really complete was if he had played "Only Because of You" because that IS my all-time favorite song. I absolutely love singing the female part (oh well... a girl can dream... ).
There was this amazing saxophonist from Canada by the name of Aaron that accompanied Roger on a few songs - he was truly phenomenal! I watched him during the sound check, and he broke into the "Sanford and Son" theme, and also did a little mosquito impersonation, swatting his hand around.
The Setlist (in no particular order):
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It also started to rain a little bit, and at that time Roger started playing "Even in the Quietest Moments." He then came to the line "Even though the sun is shining, well I feel the rain..." the crowd went wild with applause. It could've been a torrential downpour out there and I guarantee no one was going to budge... I know I wasn't going anywhere!
The show lasted for a little over an hour, and when Roger said that he was at the end of the song list, the audience was protesting - the crowd wanted more! I know if he could've stayed for another hour he would have, but the concert schedule was pretty tight and another band was going to be taking to the other stage at 10:30. He did come back for a two-song encore: "Two of Us" and "Give A Little Bit." What an amazing night, and it was about to get even more amazing.
Suddenly, it was time to go backstage! I don't know about the rest of you, but I was never lucky enough to be going backstage at any of the concerts I've seen. I always refered to them as "those people," and I would always be watching them from the other side of a well-guarded fence. I was now one of "those people", and I truly felt honored by being allowed this opportunity and I definitely didn't take it for granted. Roger knew I was going to be there, and those wonderful ladies Linda Tyler and Shakti made it possible. I got a chance to meet them as well, and they were extremely nice and it was truly a pleasure to chat with them for a bit.
While we were watching the fireworks display, I was commenting to Jan how surreal this was. Suddenly, Linda came up behind us, put her hands on our shoulders and said "Follow me." Now I'm really freaking out at this point because I thought Roger was just going to step outside and talk with everyone. Oh no, we were going inside the trailer!!! I looked back at Jan and said "Holy @#$%!" several times. We walked into the trailer, which was really warm, and I looked around and didn't catch Roger right away - he was talking with the crew about some sound issues. When I finally noticed where he was standing, I looked back at Linda and whispered "Oh my God." I had my hand on my chest just nearly in tears (once again) and she looked at me and gave me a little hug. Once they were finished talkin, Roger turned around, looked at me, and smiled. Linda then introduced me to him, we shook hands and I said "I'm so happy to meet you." He then pulls me towards him and gave me one of the biggest hugs I had ever received. I remember I was nearly crying, my face nearly buried in his shirth, and squeaked out the phrase "Hi baby." I could not believe that I said that! Once we let go of each other, I said "The last time I met you in 1998, I couldn't say 5 words to you." Roger replied, "Was it in that round place?" I shook my head yes, "Minneapolis." At that point we both agreed that that place was really strange. He also said I looked really good, and I had told him I had lost some weight, and then this question came out of left field: "Are you in love?" to which I replied "I have a 3 year old daughter, and that's who I'm in love with" (I think he might have been taking a bit off guard with my response). He then chatted with Jan, and I just watched in utter awe.
Then it was picture time! Jan was nice enough to take pictures with his camera since my digital camera went kaput during the concert. As Roger and I were posing for photographs, our arms around each other, he said "She has a really great website," and then he gave me a squeeze and said "That's my Rita!" At that point I felt truly honored. He knew me... little ole me...
Roger also asked me where I was sitting during the concert, and Linda and I both chimed in "front row." He said, "Really? I was looking for you." I guess I must have looked really different, but then again the photo I have on this site was from back in 1998, and I've changed quite a bit from then.
I also asked him the question that I have been wanting to ask him since 2000: "Are you doing alright?" I was really worried about this because we were both struggling with a loss of marriage right around the same time, and he was very sweet to sign my guestbook to give me encouragement. He assured me with a smile that he's doing alright and that his heart is good, and that he's still plugging away at life. I think that question may have caught him by surprise, because I wasn't asking a question about the artist - I was asking this question about the man. In fact, the only thing I said about his music was that I really enjoyed the show and that it was wonderful.
After about 15 minutes or so, it was time to leave - Roger had other folks to meet, but before we left I was able to show him a picture of my daughter Zoe, and he thought she was wonderful, and told me next time I should bring her. I promised that I would, then we said our goodbyes and left the trailer. I'm pretty sure I didn't walk - I floated... all the way to my car... all the way through the thunderstorm back to the hotel, and all the way back home.
Linda & Shakti: thank you so much for the opportunity to meet the both of you and to chat with you for a little bit, even if it was to only calm the nerves of this old girl!
From the bottom of my heart, Roger, I thank you! Thank you for being so wonderful and gracious, allowing me to visit with you for a little while. This is by far the longest relationship I have ever been in: 21 years and I am still just as much in love with you as the day I discovered your music. You are truly a gift from heaven, and I thank God that He put you here on this Earth.